2 SOCIAL SCIENTIST tant that the voice of the critics should reach at least informed opinion in the country. The current double'^number of Social Scientist therefore is exclusively devoted to a critical analysis of the-governnierrc^s-new.cconomic policy: its content, its origins, its theoretical underpinniagsKcarions, as well as the alternatives to it. Critical reviews of the current economic policy have so far appeared sporadically, and scattered across several different magazines, journals and newspapers; we are glad therefore to be able to bring to our readers a collection-of papers in a single volume that fairly comprehensively covers the different aspects of this policy. -- The papers contained in this number were all originally presented at a National Convention on Current-Economic Policy and the Alternatives, which was held at New Delhi on August 31 and September 1. At the end of its deliberations, the Convention had adopted a statement which is also reproduced in this number. Some of the papers presented at the This special number is dedicated to the memory of M.J.K. Thavaraj, distinguished radical scholar and our editorial colleague who passed away earlier this year. It is only in the fitness of things thattweshould in this manner, remember a man who took consistently anti-imperialist position, for the struggle against the new economic-policy is a struggle against deeper imperialist penetration into the Indian economy and society; and we hope our current number provides useful material for undertaking this struggle.